Colossians 2

1 For I desire you to know, how great a contest I am having—in behalf of you, and of those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen my face in the flesh;

For I would have you know what a great conflict I have for you, and for those in Laodicea, and as many as have not seen me in person:

2 In order that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, even unto all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding, unto a personal knowledge of the sacred secret of God, —Christ:

that their hearts may be comforted, being knit together in love, and to all the riches of a full assurance of understanding in these things, to the acknowledgment of the mystery of our God and Father, and of Christ:

3 In whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge hidden away.

in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

4 This I say, in order that, no one, may be reasoning, you, aside with plausible discourse;

And this I say, least any one should deceive you with fine speeches.

5 For, though, indeed, in the flesh, I am absent, yet, in the spirit, with you, I am—rejoicing, and beholding your order and the solid firmness of your Christ-ward faith.

For though I be absent in body, yet am I with you in spirit, rejoicing and beholding your regularity, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ.

6 As therefore ye have accepted the Anointed Jesus as your Lord, in him, be walking, —

Therefore as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him;

7 Rooted, and being built up, in him, and making yourselves sure in your faith, even as ye have been taught, —surpassing therein with thanksgiving.

rooted and built up in Him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught it, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

8 Be taking heed, lest there shall be anyone leading, you, off as a spoil, through means of their philosophy, and an empty deceit, —according to the instruction of men, according to the first principles of the world, —and not according to Christ:

Take heed least any one make a prey of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ:

9 Because, in him, dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead, bodily,

for all the fulness of the deity dwelleth personally in Him.

10 And ye are, in him, filled full, —Who, is the head of all principality and authority,

And ye are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

11 In whom, ye have also been circumcised with a circumcision not done by hand, in the despoiling of the body of flesh, in the circumcision of the Christ, —

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision not performed by hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision which is of Christ:

12 Having been buried together with him in your immersion, wherein also ye have been raised together, through your faith in the energising of God—Who raised him from among the dead.

being buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are raised together with Him, through faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

13 And, as for you—who were, dead, by your offences and by the uncircumcision of your flesh, he hath brought you to life together with him, —having in favour forgiven us all our offences,

And when ye were dead in trespasses, and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

14 Having blotted out the handwriting against us by the decrees, which was hostile to us, —and hath taken away, the same, out of the midst, nailing it up to the cross:

and cancelled the obligation we were under by ritual decrees, which was grievous to us, and hath taken it quite away, even nailing it to his cross.

15 Spoiling the principalities and the authorities, he made of them an open example, celebrating a triumph over them thereby.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made them an open spectacle, triumphing over them by it.

16 Let no one, therefore, be judging, you, —in eating and in drinking, or in respect of feast, or new moon, or sabbath, —

Let no one therefore judge you on account of meat, or drink, or in respect of a feast, or a new-moon, or sabbaths;

17 Which are a shadow of the things to come, whereas, the body, is of the Christ.

which are a shadow of good things to come, but the body is of Christ.

18 Let, no one, against you, be arbitrating, however wishful, —in respect of lowliness of mind, and of a religious observance of the messengers: upon what things he hath seen, taking his stand, in vain, puffed up by his carnal mind, —

Let no one deprive you of your reward by an affected humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into what he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his carnal mind;

19 And not holding fast the head: from which, all the body, through means of its joints and uniting bands, receiving supply, and connecting itself together, groweth with the growth of God.

and not adhering to the head, from which all the body, being supplied and held together as by joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God.

20 If ye have died, together with Christ, from the first principles of the world, why, as though alive in the world, are ye submitting to decrees, —

If therefore ye be dead with Christ from the elements of the world; why, as if living in the world, are ye subject to ceremonial ordinances,

21 Do not handle, nor taste, nor touch; —

(such as "touch not, taste not,

22 Which things are all for decay in the using up; —according to the commandments and teachings of men?

handle not," which all tend to corruption in the using, ) according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 The which things, indeed, though they have, an appearance, of wisdom, in self-devised religious observance, and lowliness of mind, [and] ill-treatment of body, are, in no honourable way, unto a satisfying of the flesh.

which things indeed have a pretence to wisdom in voluntary worship, and humiliation, and bodily penance, as having no regard to the satisfying of the flesh.